Published: Tuesday, November 26, 2013 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Monday, November 25, 2013 at 11:18 p.m.

In 2009, you stumbled on an abandoned airplane graveyard in St. Augustine, Fla. and started shooting photos as an amateur photographer. Talk about that experience.

I was out with my best friend, Casey, looking for unique locations to do some portraits for him. Since he grew up in St. Augustine, he had known of the airplane graveyard right off the side of U.S. Highway 1. We stopped there and ended up shooting there for over four hours.

I climbed inside each and every plane and went home with a large amount of images to edit. I returned several times over the following year. I instantly fell in love with the old planes and enjoyed this new challenge of trying to create beauty in a place where others might have only seen junk. After photographing the planes, I became fascinated with the concept and thus was born my current series, “The Art of Abandonment.”

You were a banker at the time, right?

Yes. While my passion for photography grew, I was working a full-time job at SunTrust Bank in Hendersonville as a branch manager. From 2009 to 2012, I was steadily growing my photography business and began showcasing my work in local galleries and exhibiting at regional arts festivals.

In July of 2012 I was at a crossroads with my banking and photography careers and had the opportunity to part ways with the bank and pursue my dream of being a full-time professional photographer.

How was the transition to professional photographer?

Considering leaving the security and familiarity of banking and stepping out into photography full-time was a terrifying and exciting decision to make. In retrospect the decision was easy. If I had not attempted to follow my dream I would have regretted it the rest of my life and constantly wondered “What if?”

So in July of 2012 I left SunTrust and began my new life as a photographer. I told myself I would give it one year to see if I could be successful making a living and providing for my family. It's been over a year and a half now and I have no plans to stop or slow down.

Tell me about how your project with Ron Howard and Imagin8tion came about.

In 2011, Canon began a contest called Project Imagin8ion. The idea was to use photographs to help inspire a Hollywood film produced by Ron Howard. Over 96,000 people submitted images in eight categories such as time, setting, character, obstacle, goal, mood, relationship, and the unknown.

After a national vote narrowed the images to 10 in each category, Ron Howard selected one from each category. My image of one of the cockpits from the airplane graveyard in St. Augustine was selected to inspire the setting for the film.

What happened after Howard picked your photo for that honor?

After the images were selected, Ron and his daughter, Bryce, sat down with screenwriter Dane Charbeneau and wrote out the screenplay for a film called “When You Find Me.” The challenge for them was to truly integrate the images into the story and tie them together in a deep and meaningful way. They truly succeeded in every way. Not only did the images inspire key elements of the film and storytelling process, but the depth of the story and bonds formed with the characters were stunning.

What was it like to be in Hollywood for the premier of the movie that was based on your photograph?

In November of 2011, Canon flew me and my wife up to New York City to attend a red carpet premiere and watch the final film with Ron Howard and his daughter. The event was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Getting to meet Ron, Bryce and so many other celebrities and walk the red carpet with them was incredible! The final film was a 25-minute short film and can be viewed in its entirety online at http://bit.ly/10cjzC8.

Tell me about Imagina10n. Two of your photos were chosen for that project?

Project Imaginat10n was the second iteration of Canon's contest and began in 2012. The idea was that instead of one film being inspired by photographs, that 10 films would be created. Five would be directed by celebrities Eva Longoria; Jamie Foxx; Biz Stone, the founder of Twitter; James Murphy, of rock band LCD Soundsystem; and Georgina Chapman, a fashion designer.

The other five films would be produced by independent filmmakers. Canon encouraged everyone, even past winners, to submit images to the new contest. By some stroke of luck, one of my images of an abandoned telephone switchboard was selected by the blind jury and made the finals of the contest.

Longoria and Murphy both selected my image and used it as inspiration for their own films, which can be viewed online at www.longliveimagination.com.

You've won a lot of awards for your photography. Does any particular award stand out to you?

I have been very honored and blessed to receive numerous awards while touring my work across the country. My images have been featured in art galleries, museums, television shows and magazines. I have won five best-in-show awards over the last year at art festivals across the Southeast. It's always an honor to receive such a distinction and equally unexpected for me as well.

What do you enjoy about photographing abandoned spaces and items?

Creating the “Art of Abandonment” series has been an extremely rewarding experience for me. Basically I travel the country seeking out old, historic, forgotten locations and try to create beauty in these unexpected places. I look at this series as a sort of historic preservation through art.

I go beyond just taking a photograph, and attempt to bring these places back to life in my images. Working with the owners and preservation groups, I am able to uncover the history and stories of these places and share them with the world so that people can remember the history and the significance of these modern ruins.

What types of feelings are you experiencing when you're photographing abandoned spaces and items?

When I visit and explore these old locations, I can't help but imagine what they once were in their prime. Many of these places hold untold stories and significance, and I can't help but weave together these stories in my mind as I explore. People often ask if I get creeped out while inside some of these places and the answer is usually no. Even in a decaying state, I still get a sense of life in these places and I try to communicate that through my images.

I don't create creepy scary scenes; I strive to show the warmth and life that still shines ever so faintly through the dust and decay.

It seems amazing that stumbling on an abandoned airplane graveyard in Florida years ago has led to an entirely new career for you. Does that give you pause sometimes?

The airplane graveyard holds a very special place in my heart, as it was a strong inspiration for my artistic career. After years of looking at the images of the planes I began to picture them as old war heroes sitting around, sharing their stories and battle scars. Being personified as such, it was heart-wrenching for me to discover that in May of 2011, all of the planes there were demolished and sold for scrap.

However, the act of destroying the planes just serves as a constant reminder that these historic places are constantly in danger of disappearing forever. That is why I feel it is important for me to be out there documenting and telling the stories of these places before they are gone. They are a part of our history and they were meaningful and important at one time, and their stories deserve to be told and remembered.

In addition to my website where I sell my photography, www.TheDigitalMirage.com, I run a blog, www.ArtofAbandonment.com, where people can read the stories and history of these abandoned locations. I tell not only our experiences there, but also provide historic background and images of these locations when they were in their prime. I am constantly updating both sites with new images and stories. Readers can reach me via email at WalterArnoldPhotography@gmail.com or at 828-335-3503.

<p><b>Got a Minute:</b> Walter Arnold</p><p><b>Age:</b> 32</p><p><b>Occupation:</b> Professional photographer</p><p><b>In 2009, you stumbled on an abandoned airplane graveyard in St. Augustine, Fla. and started shooting photos as an amateur photographer. Talk about that experience.</b></p><p>I was out with my best friend, Casey, looking for unique locations to do some portraits for him. Since he grew up in St. Augustine, he had known of the airplane graveyard right off the side of U.S. Highway 1. We stopped there and ended up shooting there for over four hours.</p><p>I climbed inside each and every plane and went home with a large amount of images to edit. I returned several times over the following year. I instantly fell in love with the old planes and enjoyed this new challenge of trying to create beauty in a place where others might have only seen junk. After photographing the planes, I became fascinated with the concept and thus was born my current series, “The Art of Abandonment.”</p><p><b>You were a banker at the time, right?</b></p><p>Yes. While my passion for photography grew, I was working a full-time job at SunTrust Bank in Hendersonville as a branch manager. From 2009 to 2012, I was steadily growing my photography business and began showcasing my work in local galleries and exhibiting at regional arts festivals.</p><p>In July of 2012 I was at a crossroads with my banking and photography careers and had the opportunity to part ways with the bank and pursue my dream of being a full-time professional photographer.</p><p> </p><p><b>How was the transition to professional photographer? </b></p><p>Considering leaving the security and familiarity of banking and stepping out into photography full-time was a terrifying and exciting decision to make. In retrospect the decision was easy. If I had not attempted to follow my dream I would have regretted it the rest of my life and constantly wondered “What if?”</p><p>So in July of 2012 I left SunTrust and began my new life as a photographer. I told myself I would give it one year to see if I could be successful making a living and providing for my family. It's been over a year and a half now and I have no plans to stop or slow down.</p><p><b>Tell me about how your project with Ron Howard and Imagin8tion came about.</b></p><p>In 2011, Canon began a contest called Project Imagin8ion. The idea was to use photographs to help inspire a Hollywood film produced by Ron Howard. Over 96,000 people submitted images in eight categories such as time, setting, character, obstacle, goal, mood, relationship, and the unknown.</p><p>After a national vote narrowed the images to 10 in each category, Ron Howard selected one from each category. My image of one of the cockpits from the airplane graveyard in St. Augustine was selected to inspire the setting for the film.</p><p><b>What happened after Howard picked your photo for that honor?</b></p><p>After the images were selected, Ron and his daughter, Bryce, sat down with screenwriter Dane Charbeneau and wrote out the screenplay for a film called “When You Find Me.” The challenge for them was to truly integrate the images into the story and tie them together in a deep and meaningful way. They truly succeeded in every way. Not only did the images inspire key elements of the film and storytelling process, but the depth of the story and bonds formed with the characters were stunning.</p><p> </p><p><b>What was it like to be in Hollywood for the premier of the movie that was based on your photograph? </b></p><p>In November of 2011, Canon flew me and my wife up to New York City to attend a red carpet premiere and watch the final film with Ron Howard and his daughter. The event was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Getting to meet Ron, Bryce and so many other celebrities and walk the red carpet with them was incredible! The final film was a 25-minute short film and can be viewed in its entirety online at http://bit.ly/10cjzC8.</p><p><b>Tell me about Imagina10n. Two of your photos were chosen for that project? </b></p><p>Project Imaginat10n was the second iteration of Canon's contest and began in 2012. The idea was that instead of one film being inspired by photographs, that 10 films would be created. Five would be directed by celebrities Eva Longoria; Jamie Foxx; Biz Stone, the founder of Twitter; James Murphy, of rock band LCD Soundsystem; and Georgina Chapman, a fashion designer.</p><p>The other five films would be produced by independent filmmakers. Canon encouraged everyone, even past winners, to submit images to the new contest. By some stroke of luck, one of my images of an abandoned telephone switchboard was selected by the blind jury and made the finals of the contest.</p><p>Longoria and Murphy both selected my image and used it as inspiration for their own films, which can be viewed online at www.longliveimagination.com.</p><p><b>You've won a lot of awards for your photography. Does any particular award stand out to you? </b></p><p>I have been very honored and blessed to receive numerous awards while touring my work across the country. My images have been featured in art galleries, museums, television shows and magazines. I have won five best-in-show awards over the last year at art festivals across the Southeast. It's always an honor to receive such a distinction and equally unexpected for me as well.</p><p><b>What do you enjoy about photographing abandoned spaces and items?</b></p><p>Creating the “Art of Abandonment” series has been an extremely rewarding experience for me. Basically I travel the country seeking out old, historic, forgotten locations and try to create beauty in these unexpected places. I look at this series as a sort of historic preservation through art.</p><p>I go beyond just taking a photograph, and attempt to bring these places back to life in my images. Working with the owners and preservation groups, I am able to uncover the history and stories of these places and share them with the world so that people can remember the history and the significance of these modern ruins.</p><p><b>What types of feelings are you experiencing when you're photographing abandoned spaces and items?</b></p><p>When I visit and explore these old locations, I can't help but imagine what they once were in their prime. Many of these places hold untold stories and significance, and I can't help but weave together these stories in my mind as I explore. People often ask if I get creeped out while inside some of these places and the answer is usually no. Even in a decaying state, I still get a sense of life in these places and I try to communicate that through my images.</p><p>I don't create creepy scary scenes; I strive to show the warmth and life that still shines ever so faintly through the dust and decay.</p><p><b>It seems amazing that stumbling on an abandoned airplane graveyard in Florida years ago has led to an entirely new career for you. Does that give you pause sometimes?</b></p><p>The airplane graveyard holds a very special place in my heart, as it was a strong inspiration for my artistic career. After years of looking at the images of the planes I began to picture them as old war heroes sitting around, sharing their stories and battle scars. Being personified as such, it was heart-wrenching for me to discover that in May of 2011, all of the planes there were demolished and sold for scrap.</p><p>However, the act of destroying the planes just serves as a constant reminder that these historic places are constantly in danger of disappearing forever. That is why I feel it is important for me to be out there documenting and telling the stories of these places before they are gone. They are a part of our history and they were meaningful and important at one time, and their stories deserve to be told and remembered.</p><p>In addition to my website where I sell my photography, www.TheDigitalMirage.com, I run a blog, www.ArtofAbandonment.com, where people can read the stories and history of these abandoned locations. I tell not only our experiences there, but also provide historic background and images of these locations when they were in their prime. I am constantly updating both sites with new images and stories. Readers can reach me via email at WalterArnoldPhotography@gmail.com or at 828-335-3503.</p>